This Aviation Museum Near Munich, Germany, Is An Absolute “MUST See Attraction”

Passing by in a car a few years ago, I had no clue this had been something special. After all, it looked just like a field that stretched into infinity. But that’s exactly what made it so appealing to the Luftwaffe in WW2. The German Air Force of that era has always intrigued me, so I was excited to visit the Oberschleissheim Airfield – the oldest, still surviving such place in Germany.

From 1933 to 1945 it was a key airbase for the Luftwaffe, who used it as a training airfield for fighter and bomber crews. Its importance was highlighted on November 11th, 1935, when Erhard Milch, the Secretary for Aviation in Hitler’s hierarchy, and fighter ace Ernst Udet, came to see it. Nearly 10 years later, on April 25th, 1945 allied bombers demolished all the runways making them totally unusable.

The Museum’s Fiesler Storch. Photo courtesy of John Clayton.

Although it was used as a helicopter base by the US military after WW2, in 1981 it closed and the airfield and its surrounding buildings fell into disrepair. One of the most fascinating museums in Germany is the Deutches Museum, and in 1988 some of their far sighted officials saw the airfield’s historic value and decided to make it part of their famous aviation section. It opened in 1992, and it’s absolutely fascinating. When I visited they had over 60 aircraft on display, including helicopters, VTOL, jets, hang gliders, seaplanes, flight simulators, engines etc., and it’s an aviation aficionado’s heaven.

If you’re into “Classic Aircraft,” this photo from just a small section of the large Oberschleissham Airport Museum, is one of the reasons why you should include it on your trip to Germany. Photo courtesy of John Clayton.

I’m intrigued by almost any WW2 aircraft, and there are four in THIS Museum that are spellbinding. A Fiesler Storch; a unique DC3; a VTOL aircraft; and a flying boat. As a kid growing up in WW2 London, one of the Nazi bombers that bombed our City was the Heinkel 111 – and it transfixed me. It also terrified thousands of Brits during its many forays over the UK, especially those over London, and this Museum had one “under restoration.” It’s the CASA 2, 111, and was built under license for the Spanish Air Force. However, after serving with them for a good number of years they discarded it in the early 1960s, and in 1968 it was what’s called “written off” as an active aircraft. But this airplane seems to have had an “inborn secret for survival” as she became a Star of sorts, because in 1968 she appeared in a British movie called “The Battle Of Britain,” as what she was – a WW2 Nazi bomber. Her life changed yet again in 1977 when the Deutches Museum purchased her. In 2000 it was decided to bring her it back to her full Spanish Air Force glory, and a massive restoration project began.

The Heinkel 111 being re-born in the Museum’s workshops. I actually saw these aircraft in WW2 – either in newsreel films in London as a kid, and once when I was in the county of Dorset, and saw one of them that had been shot down near the town of Dorchester. It gave me (says TBoy author John Clayton) a really eerie feeling to see one again. And so up close and personal! Several months ago I heard the re-construction had been completed. If anyone reading this knows for sure it’s a fact, please email me that information at jdcradio@gmail.com. Photo courtesy of John Clayton.The (truly) unique Dornier 31. Stunning! Photo courtesy of John Clayton.

Any WW2 aficionado can tell you that any time the Germans needed any sort of battlefield overview of how things stood on the battlefield, they used a marvelous aircraft called the Fielser Storch. It was also used by many top Nazi officials and military brass – and is often seen in movies about WW2 – so it was enthralling to see a living copy of yet another classic airplane.

The DC 3 – but in the colors of the modern day Luftwaffe. Photo courtesy of John Clayton.

The Museum’s Dornier 31 was the world’s only VTOL fixed wing transport, and was built by the Germans for research and flight testing. Just 2 were built, after which the concept “died,” so it was another “Bonus Airplane Sight” to see one in this unique museum. When you first glimpse the Museum’s Dornier Do 24 T-3, you’re convinced it’s a classic Catalina flying boat – but no, it is not. Like the Catalina for the Allies, this German seaplane played a vital role in WW2 for the Nazis, who used it as a long range reconnaissance aircraft, troop transport and for air sea rescues. The Museum’s DC-3 is riveting, but for a reason you probably don’t even think about. The reality is that most folks instantly associate the DC-3 (or C-47 as the US military called it) with the Allies in WW2, so to see it in the colors of the modern German Luftwaffe came as a surprise and yes, a jolt to me.

The Dornier DO 24 T-3 Flying Boat. Photo courtesy of John Clayton.

For anyone with even the slightest interest in aviation, this is a MUST SEE museum. It’s easily accessible from nearby Munich by S-Bahn train service route S1 to the Freising Airport and Oberschiessheim station. Email them at visitorservice@deutsches-museum.de

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John Clayton: Travel with a Difference

Although the majority of John's life has been dedicated to the travel industry as a PR executive in both the airline and cruise industry, he says "the most intriguing part was my 15 years on Los Angeles area radio stations, from early 1992 to the summer of 2007." He began his travel radio career at KABC with a two hour show every weekend. He then moved to KKGO/KMZT where he was the host and co-producer a 24/7 travel feature, and in July 2002, he attained a long held dream of joining the CBS radio station in Los Angeles, KNX1070 News radio.

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Based on journeys to 51 countries, John's written and broadcast over five thousand travel features for his radio show "John Clayton's Travel With A Difference." He says his segments take his audience on "offbeat trips to places around the world, where I give people vacation ideas most have never thought about, because they've never heard of them - and they're written and presented in an entertaining and fun way - hence the title Travel With A Difference."

Born in the Kensington section of London, England, John is now (a proud) American citizen. His journey across the Atlantic originally took him to Canada, where he had his first radio show. After doing entertainment publicity in New York, he moved to Los Angeles, where he held executive PR positions with Continental Airlines and Western Cruise Lines. We invite you to experience the magic, mystery and difference of traveling with John Clayton.